Rockfish charges hook 37Thirty-seven people were charged...

MARYLAND NEWSWATCH

Thirty-seven people were charged with illegal possession of rockfish yesterday at Matapeake State Park on Kent Island, where a late-night tip brought a quick response by Natural Resources Police.

The police seized 15 of the out-of-season fish, each weighing between 8 and 10 pounds and measuring 24 to 28 inches, from anglers leaving the park south of the Bay Bridge, Department of Natural Resources spokesman Robert Gould said.

Officers also seized about $4,000 worth of fishing equipment, he said.

Cars leaving the park with anglers identified by police surveillance were stopped and searched between midnight and 10 a.m.

"This was not like somebody was out fishing and caught one by mistake," Mr. Gould said. "These people knew what they were doing. Rockfish are very obvious."

The police crackdown on illegal angling for rockfish -- also known as striped bass -- began last month at Conowingo Dam on the Susquehanna River in Harford County, where more than 100 citations have been issued. Mr. Gould said everyone in the cars where rockfish were found is subject to a citation, no matter who hooked the fish. The misdemeanor has a maximum fine of $500 per fish.

State police and prison officers confiscated more than 50 grams of cocaine outside the House of Correction yesterday. It was the largest seizure in an operation that began in January to halt the flow of drugs into the Jessup prison.

Arrested outside the prison about 5 p.m. was Tyrone Jerome Gadson, 28, of the 3600 block of Kenmar Drive, Baltimore, whose 1989 Toyota 4-Runner was stopped at the entrance gates.

State Trooper Charles Prince said his dog, Sandie, a 4-year-old golden retriever trained to sniff out drugs, indicated the presence of narcotics. In the vehicle, the trooper and Division of Correction Sgt. Bernard Ralph found 16.8 grams of cocaine powder, 35.8 grams of crack cocaine and 33.1 grams of marijuana, authorities said.

Charges against Mr. Gadson included possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana, and possession with intent to deliver narcotics to a prison inmate. He was taken to the Anne Arundel County Detention Center.

Baltimore City:

A 39-year-old Mount Vernon man who surprised a burglar early yesterday was shot in the face with his own gun after the intruder wrestled it from him, police reported.

Foster Taciak heard a noise coming from the deck of his second-story apartment in the 800 block of N. Charles St. and went to investigate about 5:30 a.m.

Seeing nothing, he went back inside but felt a cool breeze coming through a broken window. Going back to the deck, Mr. Taciak saw a man trying to get inside his apartment, police said.

Mr. Taciak pulled his handgun, but "the suspect took the gun away from him and shot him," according to police.

The victim was in fair condition at the Maryland Shock Trauma Center.

Carroll County:

The county's Board of Zoning Appeals will have two new faces when it meets next month.

The county commissioners have appointed Woodbine resident Claude R. Rash to serve for three years, replacing former chairman John Totura.

Also named was Damian L. Halstad of Westminster, who will serve the remaining two years of the term of commissioner John L. Armacost, who resigned Sept. 1.

Harford County:

A 23-year-old man has been convicted of asking an undercover policeman to kill four men, then trying to gun down two of them.

Waters was living with his girlfriend in the Edgewater Village apartments when police arrested him Dec. 14. He was charged with solicitation to commit murder, attempted murder, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, assault and using a handgun in a violent crime.

The arrest followed a 12-day series of events that began Dec. 2 and stemmed from an ongoing dispute over drugs.

On that date, testimony in the three-day trial showed, Waters agreed to sell a nickel-plated handgun to Cpl. Barry Williams, working undercover for the state police on a case involving stolen guns.

Mr. Williams said that after Waters made the deal to sell the gun, he asked the undercover officer's help in killing four men.

Corporal Williams said Waters outlined plans for the murders two days later. The corporal agreed to help, and asked for more guns.

On Dec. 14, before the deal for the additional guns had been completed, Waters fired shots at two of the men as they ran across a foot bridge behind the Edgewood Shopping Center, testimony showed.

Baltimore County:

The county's poor will be able to receive surplus federal food at nine sites, beginning tomorrow.

Applesauce, canned corn, cornmeal, peanut butter, canned pork, flour and canned tomatoes will be handed out. Distribution all sites except Parkton will start at 8:30 a.m. and continue until supplies are gone. In Parkton, the hours will be 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The distribution begins tomorrow at the county government building at Wise Avenue and Merritt Boulevard in Dundalk. Other dates and sites are: